Cladding of a combustible nature

vany

I’m just another one with the same issues. I was hoping to do the final staircasing as my fixed mortgage rate has just come to an end. Started the process early and instructed the surveyor. They have requested a written report as other people on this post. My Housing Association is Hyde. I have been in touch with them over the course of the last few months. I eventually got a response stating that as these are just guidelines set by the government and taken up by RICS, they would not be instructing this report as they have complied with legislation regarding Fire Risk Assessments (type 4) etc. They’ve told me to wait as talks are ongoing with the government.... I filed a complaint to no avail. The Ombudsman will not consider my case unless 8 weeks have passed since my last communication with Hyde, so they advised I contact my local MP, which I have done.
In the meantime, the valuation on my property has now lapsed (3 months), I have paid a deposit to conveyancing solicitors and my mortgage is set to double in monthly payments as the rate has changed from the fixed rate I was on.
........
Rant over.....

Apart from writing to my local MP in the hope that I join a multitude of people on the same boat, I am currently making enquiries with an independent surveyor to ascertain how much this report will cost if instructed by myself. I can only see this as a solution, if affordable.

I’d be interested to see other people’s responses as this develops.

dieterdd77

Same issue, can't complete on another property (cladding safe) but cannot get equity out of my current place which I plan to rent (have renters lined up); although cladding is considered "safe / non ACM";

I'm getting a dreaded £0 valuation; although I have a fire risk assesment document from 11 months ago which got rejected instantly. I also have a statement from an independent surveyor saying my flat does NOT have ACM type cladding and is considered safe but Barclays is insisting on a BS8414 test and certification no matter what.

The building agent says they wont do it as the cost is too high and it's "not fair" to other leaseholders in the building. Instead the developer will issue some "advice" to Barclays in the hope they accept it. I think this is a useless effort and will get rejected again. What can I do?

[Deleted User]

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Londoner1990

Unfortunately all the MPs are discussing is Brexit at the moment, and will be for the foreseeable future. Although I still feel like it is important for us to write to our local MPs about this issue. My colleague has been informed that his management company is arranging for a fire safety review to be conducted, which is a positive sign for the rest of us. The management company I've contacted are trying to get a response from the freeholder agent at present, but nothing seems promising to be honest.

dieterdd77

I also supplied Barclays with a full fire risk assesment and it got rejected due to the BRE135 not being present yet.

Forsale

We got a response from MHCLG after emailing our MP and they said thank you for your comments, this is just a guideline for lenders - we have replied saying do they realise what problems they have caused by the advice they have given but no reply yet.

It will cause the housing market to crash if lenders are refusing to lend on flats, no one will be able to move on, and then the people at the next level won't be able to move on because no one will be buying.

We need to all put pressure on our MPs to get it to RT Hon Robert Jenrick and MHCLG (he ignores emails if you email him directly) as we have been told it could take years to sort - time we have not got!!

asm89

In all honesty, lenders are free to define their lending policies, so they can apply these guidelines however they choose to, more restrictively or not. I'm guessing the council of mortgage lenders also issued some guidance on this, which is what lenders are following as they all see to use exactly the same wording to applicants to ask for the cladding reports.

No one will lend if there's any risk the building could burn down very quickly.

The people that need the pressure are management companies and housing associations, to produce these reports immediately. The government should also provide access to funds for these safety checks that are now require, not just for cladding replacement. Although I question, why the cost of these checks can't come out of the service charge.

davidmcn

asm89 wrote: »

No one will lend if there's any risk the building could burn down very quickly.

It's more that they won't lend while it's difficult for them to sell the property (which can be a chicken and egg situation, where lenders won't lend on a property which other lenders don't see as mortgageable because...etc).

MikeHu

Hi - I’m happy to write to our local MP (Lucy Powell) if you could share a template of the letter you sent please?

Our building is 99% brick, and the 1% cladding is safe, however we have sellers facing into the same issue regarding AN14 & mortgage providers requiring the cladding sign-offs (which our management company advises few copies are willing to sign-off on older buildings given that AN14 is new and untested).

sal_III

I wouldn't hope much on my MP resolvign the situation. Even if Parliament/Government find time to revise the recommendations and tone them down, at the current low interest rates the Lenders are likely to keep the more stringent requirements for certificates in place as is their right.

The only way to speed up the ability to sell is to apply pressure to your management company to provide the certificates required by Lenders in a timely manner and hope the cladding is not of combustible nature.